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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2018; 6(4): 1855-1860
E-ISSN: 2320-7078
P-ISSN: 2349-6800
JEZS 2018; 6(4): 1855-1860
© 2018 JEZS
Received: 23-05-2018
Accepted: 24-06-2018
Pavan Laxmanrao Jadhav
Department of Zoology,
School of Life Sciences, Swami
Ramanand Teerth Marathwada
University, Nanded,
Maharashtra State, India
Shivaji P Chavan
Department of Zoology,
School of Life Sciences, Swami
Ramanand Teerth Marathwada
University, Nanded,
Maharashtra State, India
Harshad Sudarshan Trimukhe
Shari Academy of Professional
Photography, Colaba, Mumbai,
Maharashtra State, India
Correspondence
Pavan Laxmanrao Jadhav
Department of Zoology,
School of Life Sciences, Swami
Ramanand Teerth Marathwada
University, Nanded,
Maharashtra State, India
Snake species diversity and their distribution in
and around Nanded city, Maharashtra, India
Pavan Laxmanrao Jadhav, Shivaji P Chavan and Harshad Sudarshan
Trimukhe
Abstract Snakes are one of the most wide spread vertebrates on the globe, mostly they prefer arid zone of the
globe in terms of diversity. Data collected based on reports from volunteers, snake friends and rescuers
26 species of snakes reported from Nanded region of Maharashtra of that 10 species were venomous and
16 were semi-venomous and non-venomous. Road kills, encounter during work in agriculture fields and
poor knowledge of the people in general about failure in distinguish between venomous and non-
venomous species were main reasons behind destruction of snakes from this region. Major four
venomous species Spectacled Cobra, Russell’s viper, Common Krait, Wall’s Sindh Krait and Saw scaled
Viper. Occurrence of Python in the arid parts of SRTM University at Nanded away from main natural
habitats was remarkable note of this research. Need of snake conservation to balance the ecosystem and
to protect the food chain is main challenge identified. Continuous monitoring on snake species diversity
of the region is suggested.
Keywords: Snakes, diversity, Nanded, Venomous, India
1. Introduction Snakes are important part of various food chains in the ecosystems. The snakes are distributed
in various kinds of habitats that Include grasslands, wetlands, forests, agriculture fields, around
the residential areas, scrublands, deserts and sea. The snakes are predatory on rodents,
amphibians, birds, mammals, all reptiles, insects, eggs and young ones of birds. It indicates the
variation in food selectivity of these creatures. Since ancient time the snakes are one of the
successful vertebrates on the earth. Most of the snake species are found in the arid zone of the
world [14]. Snakes are well known for their hibernation and aestivation. it is possible due to
their ability to survive without feeding for long duration. Snakes are said to be friends of
farmers because they are natural predators of harmful rodents, and insects in agriculture fields,
but in India the lack of awareness among the farmers and people in rural area hundreds of
snakes are killed by the people. The venom apparatus in the mouth of venomous snakes
include a pair of fangs is an effective structure useful for the snakes to kill their prey animal.
Due to human mistake of careless work in the fields in the agriculture fields without protection
measures the snake bite happens. Without knowing the snake species as venomous or non-
venomous it is killed. All over the world people fear and dislike the snakes moreover
inadequate knowledge of people about snakes results into killing whenever and wherever they
are seen [10].
Snakes are one of the most successful living vertebrates [12]. These are from clade Squamata
(Lizards, Snakes and Amphisbaenians) consists of 9193 species of that 3378 are snake species
in the world[9], from year 2000 to 2012 species added in the list as new species were 458[9].
The Indian Cobra, Russell’s viper, Saw Scaled viper, Common Krait called as big four
venomous snakes found in India.
Due to habitat destruction, scarcity of prey animals, pollution, road kills and destruction by
humans are the major threats for the survival of snakes [10, 11]. Therefore it needs continuous
monitoring on diversity and distribution of snakes in an ecosystem. Present study was aimed to
determine the diversity, distribution and varied morphs of the snake (Fig. 4, 5) species in
Nanded region of Maharashtra as a next step after earlier reports [4, 5]. Collection of venom
from snakes, animal trafficking, to pet the snakes, snake shows by charmers, use in black
magic are some important challenges in the survival and conservation of snakes.
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2. Materials and Methods
To determine diversity and distribution of snake species in
various habitats in Nanded region the data was collected from
volunteer snake friends, reports on road kills and encounter
during amateur tracking and field observations. During this
study only photographs were used. The data was collected
during year 2014 to 2017. The snake species were categories
as venomous, semi-venomous and non-venomous and also
classified as per the habitat difference. The species were
identified by using snake identification keys in the standard
taxonomic literature and online database ‘Snakes of India’ [1, 2,
13, 15].
3. Results and Discussion
There are many studies on snake diversity in Maharashtra and
nearby states like Karnataka [10, 11], from Chhattisgarh [9], from
Vidarbha region and parts of Buldhana [5]. The study was
specially conducted in S. R. T. M. University, Nanded area
first time [4] and reported occurrence of 12 species. During
present study 26 number of snake species were recorded, of
that five species were venomous, three were semi-venomous
and 16 species were non-venomous. The result indicates that
61.5% of snake species were non-venomous, but once they
appear in public place, residential areas or in the agriculture
fields they were killed by local people. At very few occasions
the people who were aware about the importance and
conservations of snakes they informed to the snake friends
and the species was saved (table 1.).
It was found that the major habitats preferred by snakes are
encroach by human being and there is impact of human
activities, hence the snake kill is maximum by human being
as compare to any other factor in nature. From the snake
species recorded during this study, the Indian Cobra,
Common Krait, Rat snake, Checkered keel back, common
Sand Boa, Common trinket, Common wolf snake, Common
Kukri species found in the study area throughout year in all
seasons whereas Russell’s Viper and Saw scaled viper
occurred during the month of October to June as their most
active period and in rest of the time these species remain
inactive and rarely sighted. The species like Indian Smooth
Snake, Barred Wolf Snake, Stripped Keel-back, Red Sand
Boa, Indian Rock Python, Green Vine Snake, Bronze Back
Tree-Snake, Common cat snake occurred during monsoon
season (June to September). Overall the snake species occur
in this particular study were during monsoon season. The
juvenile and young snakes also found during monsoon
because it is hatching period and also abundance of food in
this period. It was found that on an average occurrence of 1-2
snake species per day were reported from the residential areas
in the cities and villages. Therefore about 400 cases were
reported in a year. From that most common snake species
were Indian Cobra, Common Wolf snake, Common krait,
Russell’s Viper, Common Sand Boa, Common Trinket Snake,
Common Kukri snake, Banded Racer, Yellow-spotted Wolf
Snake and Barred Wolf Snake. All these prefer night time for
feeding, hence encountered while Indian Rat snake,
Checkered keel back, Stripped keel back, Green Keel back,
worm snakes and other often spotted during day time by the
locals and reported. In the study area in crop fields of
Soybean, Ground nuts, Jowar, Wheat and other pulses crops
the snake species encountered during harvesting of these
crops were Indian Cobra, Russell’s viper, Rat Snake,
Common Sand Boa, Red Sand Boa and Common Kukri
snake. All these species are predatory on the field Rat, Brown
rat, Mouse, Young ones of Hare, eggs and young ones of land
birds.
There is always possibility of snake bite as an accident if not
taken care during field works in agriculture, in the store
rooms, at dark places etc. All the venomous and non-
venomous snake species bite except worm snakes. Snake bite
is not due to mistake of snake but only due to mistake of
human being. Misunderstanding on difference between
venomous and non-venomous snakes leads to the death of all
type of snake species if not rescued. Therefore it is important
to save snakes to maintain the biodiversity and food chains in
ecosystem. As compared to all other factors human is the
most harmful creature for the life of snakes.
The snake species of conservational importance the Indian
Rock Python was found during this study especially in S. R.
T. M. University area Nanded and villages like
Musalmanwadi, Vishnupuri near Nanded was rescued and
released in the natural habitat by District Forest Department
Nanded, Maharashtra. The inventory of snake diversity in
Maharashtra State was conducted by random selection of area
results in hafazardous formation of data. Therefore present
study moreover is follows up of the earlier study in this region [4, 5]. Reports of rarely occurring Bramhiny worm snake and
Common Banded Kukri from this study area is rare and these
species are facing threats from being killed by human. The
forest dwelling giant snakes like Python was found
intervening the human habitation area by movement through
narrow streams and rivers is an alarming sign of food scarcity
and habitat destruction. Fortunately the python are rescued
and released indicates the fast rescue operating system of
volunteers and State Forest department of this region.
Fig 1: Spectacled Cobra (Naja naja)
Fig 2: Russell’s Viper (Daboia russelii)
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Fig 3: Saw Scaled Viper (Echis carinatus)
Fig 4: Common Krait (Bungarus s. sindanus)
Fig 5: Albino Krait (Bungarus s. sindanus)
Fig 6: Wall’s Sindh krait (Bangarus sindanus walli)
Fig 7: Common Cat Snake (Boiga trigonata)
Fig 8: Bronz Back Tree-Snake (Dendrelaphis tristis)
Fig 9: Green Vine Snake (Ahaetulla nasuta)
Fig 10: Indian Rock Python (Python m. molurus)
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Fig 11: Common Wolf Snake (Lycodon aulicus)
Fig 12: Yellow-spotted Wolf Snake (Lycodon flavomaculatus)
Fig 13: Barred Wolf Snake (Lycodon striatus)
Fig 14: Stripped Keel-back (Amphiesma stolatum)
Fig 15: Banded Racer (Argyrogena fasciolata)
Fig 16: Indian Smooth Snake (Coronella brachyura)
Fig 17: Red Sand Boa (Eryx johnii)
Fig 18: Common sand Boa (Gongylophis conicus)
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Fig 19: Dumeril’s Black Headed Snake (Sibynophis subpunctatus)
Fig 20: Russell’s kukri snake (Oligodon taeniolatus)
Fig 21: Checkered keelback (Xenochrophis piscator)
Fig 22: Indian Rat snake (Ptyas mucosa)
Fig 23: Common trinket snake (Coelognathus helena)
Fig 24: Bramhiny Worm snake (Indotyphlops bramhinus)
Fig 25: Green keel-back (Macrophistodon p. plumbicolor)
Fig 26: Common/Banded kukri (Oligodon arnensis)
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Table 1: Checklist of venomous, Semi-venomous and non-venomous snakes in Nanded region, Maharashtra
Sr. No. Scientific Name Common Name Type
1 Naja naja Spectacled Cobra Venomous
2 Bangarus sindanus walli Wall’s Sindh Krait Venomous
3 Bungarus s. sindanus Common Sindh Krait Venomous
4 Daboia russelii Russell’s Viper Venomous
5 Echis carinatus Saw Scaled Viper Venomous
6 Boiga trigonata Common Cat Snake Semi-Venomous
7 Ahaetulla nasuta Green Vine Snake Semi-Venomous
8 Lycodon flavomaculatus Yellow-spotted Wolf Snake Non-Venomous
9 Dendrelaphis tristis Common Bronze-Back tree Snake Semi-Venomous
10 Xenochrophis piscator Checkered Keelback Non-Venomous
11 Macrophistodon p. plumbicolor Green Keelback Non-Venomous
12 Ptyas mucosa Indian Rat Snake Non-Venomous
13 Eryx johnii Red Sand Boa Non-Venomous
14 Lycodon striatus Barred Wolf Snake Non-Venomous
15 Amphiesma stolatum Striped Keelback Non-Venomous
16 Sibynophis subpunctatus Dumeril's Black-headed Snake Non-Venomous
17 Gongylophis conicus Common Sand Boa Non-Venomous
18 Argyrogena fasciolata Banded Racer Non-Venomous
19 Oligodon taeniolatus Russell’s Kukri Snake Non-Venomous
20 Python m. molurus Indian Rock Python Non-Venomous
21 Coronella brachyura Indian Smooth Snake Non-Venomous
22 Oligodon arnensis Common Kukri Snake
23 Lycodon aulicus Common Wolf Snake Non-Venomous
4. Conclusions and Recommendations
It is concluded that in all 26 species of snakes were recorded
which include 10 species venomous species whereas semi-
venomous and non-venomous species were 16 species found
in Nanded area. Most of the snakes were reported from the
residential area. Lack of knowledge, fear of bite, mishandling
and careless behavior were the main reasons behind the snake
killing. snakes were not at all responsible for any mishap.
Continuous monitoring on the snake species diversity of this
region is essential, it is possible through the special awareness
program for the people, common man, farmers, students so
that snake bite, snake kills may be prevented and snake
diversity, food chain and food web of this ecosystem will be
conserved. This will help to protect the survival of human and
snakes both.
4. Acknowledgment
Thanks to all the people who reported the occurrence of snake
species from the study area. This helped snakes and we
people to save these beautiful creatures from being killed by
the gathered mob of people or individuals. Thanks to all snake
friends to assist in rescue the snakes.
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